The 2002 series began with a one mile race in Santry on the 2nd of May. Such was the volume of interest, not only from members of the Series, but also individuals and guests taking part on a one-off basis on the day in that there was necessity to hold three separate races. The overall winner of the handicap of the one mile race and the 20 points on offer was Mick Colgan and the fastest time of the night was recorded by one of our guests, Nathan Pearce of Fingallians in 4:48. Thus Mick Colgan became the first leader of the 2002 Series.

  We then moved to the picturesque grounds of Malahide Castle for a 2½ mile race which was sponsored by Eugene McCarrick, some twenty-two athletes took to the start line and the winner of the handicap on this occasion was Alan Smeaton, again one of our guests, this time of Raheny Shamrocks, with the fastest time recorded by Clonliffe's Gerry McCabe in 13:03.

  Race number 3 (track 3000m) featured a handicap which was decided on an alternative basis. In addition to taking into account an athletes anticipated finishing time the handicapper for the night, Jim Cleary, came up with a formula which was based on an athletes weight and also age. There was a tremendous turn out on the night and some thirty-two runners, no less, crammed onto the track for the beginning of the 7½ lap race. After taking all criteria into account the winner of the handicap on the night was Clonliffe's President, Maurice Ahern. The fastest time of the night was again recorded by Gerry McCabe in 9:35. In addition to being the official handicapper on the night Jim Cleary was most generous with his sponsorship of that particular race.

  Round 4 brought us back to Malahide Castle for the annual Michael Murphy Memorial 5 mile road race, again this was a race which was very well supported and thirty-four athletes took to the start. The winner of the handicap on the night was one of our guests, Terry Mee of Donore Harriers.

  The halfway stage in the Series brought us back to the track at Santry for the 5000m, following on the summer break, on the 22nd of August, there were twenty-five starters in the race which was sponsored by David Brennan. The winner of the handicap was Tom Flood. The fastest time recorded on the night was by Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrocks running a magnificent PB of 16:25.

  At this stage Eddie Harrison, also of Raheny Shamrocks, had taken over control of the leader board, seeing off the early challenges of Mick Colgan, Alan Smeaton and Pat Healy. Eddie was determined to hold off the challenge of Pat Healy and Seamus Greenan with Colm Doran moving steadily up the leaderboard.

  We then moved onto the 12th of September and the Club 10,000M championships for the Bonass Trophy, sponsored by Pat Bonass. The Grand Prix Series being incorporated in this race and again there was a very good turnout of some twenty-three athletes for this most tiring and difficult track race over twenty-five laps of the track. The Club Championship was won by Tom Griffin Jnr. in 34:35, the fastest time recorded by a competitor in the Series was David Brennan in 35:06 and the winner of the handicap this night was Declan Murray, who also picked up a bonus point for being the third fastest Series competitor.

  Round 7 was incorporated in the Walker Cup. This is a four mile track race which took place on the 3rd of October, the race being sponsored by Frasier Walker and the Walker family. Once again there was a magnificent turn out of twenty-four athletes. The Walker Cup itself was won by William Stafford. The fastest time of the night was recorded by a non-competitor in the Series, Colm Rooney in 20:14 and the winner of the handicap was Mick Fennell of Civil Service.

  We moved back to the grounds of Malahide Castle for the ten mile Club Championship for the Ahern Cup Round 8. The turn out was somewhat disappointing, only sixteen athletes taking to the start. The fastest time of the day and the winner of the Ahern Cup was Tom Monks with Sean Pender being the winner of the handicap. After this race Eddie Harrison had a clear lead on 90 points from Pat Healy on 63 points and Seamus Greenan on 55.

  The final two races of this years Series brought us back to the traditional Harriers surface of cross country for two of Clonliffe's old traditional races which were most successfully revived by the organisers with the support and foresight of Club Captain Joe Cooper.

  Firstly we had the O'Connor Cup, which was sponsored by Colm Doran, on the 2nd of November. This was a four mile cross country race over very difficult conditions in Santry demesne. There was a super turn out on the day of twenty five starters. The winner of the O'Connor Cup was Kip Daniels. The winner of the Grand Prix Series handicap was again Sean Pender and Gerry McCabe bagged the three bonus points on offer for the fastest time. This then brought us onto the Horan Cup two weeks later on the 23rd of November, sponsored by Noel Guiden.

  Saturday the 23rd of November was the date of this years Grand Prix Series final event which was incorporated in the Horan Cup 6-mile. The Horan Cup itself was instigated way back in 1908 having been donated by Clonliffe's Vice President at that time. The first winner of the race was a chap called T.J. Hassell and the first running of the race was at Clonee. The race was last run in the late 1980's/early 1990's and thankfully was revived as part of the Grand Prix Series. The race is an open handicap race, first away was Tom Flood to tackle the six heavy muddy miles in Santry demesne at the back of the Stadium. Tom remained in the lead for five and a half miles of the six mile race before eventually being caught by race winner Sean McDonnell and subsequently being caught by Eddie Bishop and William Stafford. The fastest time of the day came from scratch man, Martin Tracey, in 37:45.

  On the night of November 23rd a presentation dinner was held in Little Venice Italian Restaurant on the Airport Road. The presentation of the Behan & Associates Perpetual Cup was made to our guest, Eddie Harrison, as overall winner of the Series on 90 points. In addition Eddie was presented with a framed winners yellow singlet and also a holiday voucher. Runner-up in the Series was Clonliffe's Colm Doran who was presented with an Irish Weekend holiday voucher and in third place was Pat Healy, also of Raheny Shamrocks. Prizes were presented down to 20th place. David Brennan was presented with a superb set of crystal glasses, donated by Fred Connolly, for the fastest athlete in the Series, this was based upon the most bonus points scored in all ten races.

  Plans are already well afoot for the 2003 Series, these plans include an expansion to the number of races, to at least twelve races, the continued inclusion of a number of Clonliffe's traditional races and possibly also the revival of other "lost friends". It is hoped that this years Series will commence in either late March or April with a four mile track race for the McDonald Cup. A full announcement is expected in early March.

Reported by Noel Guiden.

Sponsored by Behan & Associates